November ends....

‘Okay guv?’

I had started to watch a robin, hopping around being busy. Somewhere during my observation, my mind has wandered. (Hard to believe I know!) I’ve been peering into the middle distance, pondering.

Pondering just about covers the word, for I’ve been in this state for several minutes. Ash leaves are fluttering down on to the lawn, and if the day was a bit drier I might get the Flymo out and have one last trundle for the year.

‘Okay guv?’

The problem is, I need to look for the safety adapter for the electric mower, and for the life of me I cant think where it’s been left after the last cut.  Frankly, it could be just about anywhere.

The robin is now perched on the handle of the garden fork, and he cocks his head one way and then the other. Fancifully, I wonder if he is looking for the safety adapter – he certainly seems to be searching for something.

There’s a definite chill in the air, November nearly done, and the tops of the trees in the ancient forest are displaying different autumnal shades.  A helicopter clatters overhead as it returns to base, and the very blue sky beyond is threaded with the trails of many 747's and such.

‘Oi!’

‘M’mm?’

The clothesline has a very neat row of raindrops hanging from it, each one so clear and perfectly matched with its neighbour.  It could be (I’m back with the safety adapter) back on the shelf in the cupboard where it should be, or, still plugged into the extension lead.

‘Ooooffff!’

Two front paws arrive in my midriff and I find myself looking at a familiar shaggy face, cocked to one side.

‘Ah you’re back guv.’

‘I don’t think I’ve been anywhere.’

‘Cor, you were staring into space old poop. I tried to get your attention, but once you go missing, a paff’s the only way to bring you back!’

The raindrops cascade from the line as the robin lands there, and continues to cock its head this way and that.

‘Hello he’s gone again.’

‘M’mm what?’

‘I said you’ve gone missing again old codger.’

‘Golly my coffee’s gone cold.’

‘Surely you can’t be surprised guv, you’ve been standing there, miles away, for ever so long.’

‘Oh.’

‘What you need is…’

‘Another coffee?’

‘Nope.’

‘Tea?’

‘No, no.’

‘U’mmm.’

‘A nice healthy stroll, that’s what you need.’

‘Really?’

‘Nothing better aged puffer.’

‘Well?’

‘Oh you know you want to really.’

‘Do I?’

The lad nods in the direction of the nearby forest.

‘Let’s get up there guv, and you can daydream while I have a jolly good old sniff about and so forth.’

‘Well?’

I gaze into the cold coffee cup, and then at the eager expression of the lad. I guess a stroll would at least take my mind off the last mow of the season, and safety adapters……

‘It’s just as well I have to keep you on a long lead governor.’

‘Really?’

‘Certainly old poop, certainly.  Lets face it, once we get in the forest you’d be hopelessly lost within two shakes of a squirrels tail!’